Manchester United

Manchester United

Premier League • England

Sir Alex Ferguson meets up with Cristiano Ronaldo, as legend gets Man Utd voice back

Ronaldo Sir ALex Ferguson November 2015

Sir Alex Ferguson met with Cristiano Ronaldo this week after being invited back to Manchester United as part of five-man think-tank.

The Daily Mail report that Sir Alex was at Carrington on Tuesday to meet up with United chief Richard Arnold and director of football John Murtough.

Man Utd chief executive Arnold has decided to meet regularly with Murtough, Ferguson, former CEO David Gill and ex-skipper Bryan Robson for advice on the running of the club.

Arnold, who replaced Ed Woodward in February, is eager to get the opinions of the experienced trio. Woodward decided to step down from the role at Old Trafford in April 2021. The decision came during the fallout from the doomed European Super League project.

Woodward preferred to make the big calls on his own at Old Trafford, but Arnold, who had been the club’s managing director since 2013, has sought advice.

Ferguson and Gill have remained on United’s football board as non-executive directors since leaving their jobs in 2013. But their input into footballing matters has been minimal.

Now the regular lunch dates will see Ferguson, Gill and Robson voice any concerns over the running of the club.

It means Ferguson, 80, will have more influence than at any time since he stepped down in May 2013. And Arnold is said to be keen to take on the thoughts of United’s most successful ever manager.

The Scot is a United legend after winning two Champions League titles. He also guided the club to 13 Premier League titles, five FA Cups, four League Cups and one European Cup Winners’ Cup. But his age and life-threatening brain haemorrhage in 2018 means he is unable to be a regular board member. However, his opinions remain vital to Arnold.

Farewell appearance for Ronaldo?

Sir Alex bumped into Ronaldo on Tuesday at Carrington, according to the report. The striker was back at the club for talks with Arnold and Ronaldo approached Sir Alex for a brief chat.

It’s unclear whether the player’s future was discussed in what has been described as a co-incidental meeting of the pair.

Sir Alex’s date had been put in the diary previous to Ronaldo’s future talks. However, it was certainly in United’s favour getting Sir Alex to speak to the player. The pair remain close after Ronaldo described Sir Alex as a “father figure” after signing him 19 years ago.

Just what influence Sir Alex had on Ronaldo is open to debate, but the Portugal star will play for United against Rayo Vallecano in a friendly on Sunday.

It appeared Ronaldo had played his last game for the club after telling United he wanted to move on. Ronaldo is still understood to be intent on leaving, but will make an apparent farewell appearance at Old Trafford.